Covariant Relativistic Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Multi-Component Systems

Abstract

Non-equilibrium and equilibrium thermodynamics of an interacting component in a relativistic multi-component system is discussed covariantly by exploiting an entropy identity. The special case of the corresponding free component is considered. Equilibrium conditions and especially the multi-component Killing relation of the 4-temperature are discussed. Two axioms characterize the mixture: additivity of the energy momentum tensors and additivity of the 4-entropies of the components generating those of the mixture. The resulting quantities of a single component and of the mixture as a whole, energy, energy flux, momentum flux, stress tensor, entropy, entropy flux, supply and production are derived. Finally, a general relativistic 2-component mixture is discussed with respect to their gravitation generating energy–momentum tensors.